Hot Topics:

All the buzz: Boulder County restaurant news

Kyle Mendenhall lands at Arcana

By Clay Fong

Camera Dining Critic

Posted:
07/06/2016 08:59:37 AM MDT

Updated:
07/06/2016 09:01:43 AM MDT

A familiar face will soon take the culinary reins of downtown Boulder's Arcana, 909 Walnut Street. Chef Kyle Mendenhall, best known for his eight year stint at The Kitchen, will assume executive chef duties at Arcana starting on July 7, replacing Jordan Quidachay. Prior to signing on with Arcana, Mendenhall had affiliated himself with Meadowlark Farm Dinners after his February departure from The Kitchen.

Carnivores might want to check out the latest meaty offerings from Blackbelly Butcher, 1606 Conestoga, No. 3, particularly if they are interested in a grab and go package that's just the ticket for summertime grilling. This craft shop now offers a $65 griller package, which includes 2 pounds each of ground beef and house sausage, half a marinated chicken, and a quart of pesto macaroni salad. Pork fans might embrace Blackbelly's bacon making kit, which includes four pounds of pork belly, a rub mix, and instructions for making your own block bacon. Last, but not least, there's also a new Meat of the Month Club, which costs $99 for a three-month membership.

Advertisement

Monthly offerings include a half-pound terrine, a pound of house sausage, 2 pounds each of dry aged steaks and ground beef, and a choice of a custom rub or marinade.

Chef Kelly Whitaker of Basta, among others, will offer a sampling of small plates paired with a short food-related film as part of "Film, Chefs, Glorious Song: The Flatirons Food Film Festival Benefit." The benefit at Boulder's Dairy Center on Aug. 3 will support of the Flatirons Food Film Festival, which will run from Oct. 20-23. A live auction and pairings of live performances from Opera on Tap Colorado with chef crafted creations will also be part of the festivities. Tickets are $75 until July 15th, and will cost $80 after that date. More information and tickets are available at flatironsfoodfilmfest.org.

24 Carrot Bistro, 578 Briggs St., Erie, expands its farm to table repertoire with a weekend brunch menu available Saturdays and Sundays 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Eye opening cocktails featured in the new bill of fare include the Bloody Buddy, made with both organic tomato juice and vodka, and a blood orange-based mimosa. Of course, one doesn't live by craft cocktails alone, so those seeking something more substantial can tuck into dishes like a local chèvre and mushroom omelet, buttermilk fried chicken and waffles, or bruleed mascarpone oatmeal.

Locally-based Boulder Flavours, balsamicnectar.com, recently received accolades for its signature product, Balsamic Nectar. This nectar received a 2016 Specialty Food Association sofi (Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation) Award for Outstanding Vinegar. Ben Powell, an engineer and president of Boulder Flavours developed an innovative aging process to create Balsamic Nectar, an affordable alternative to expensive traditional balsamics. Pricey aged versions can command a tariff in the neighborhood of around $100 an ounce. In contrast, the Balsamic Nectar costs about $3 dollars an ounce. The product, free of any additives and built on a base of authentic Italian balsamic, offers much of the complexity and taste of more expensive alternatives.

Cured West, curedboulder.com, 2019 10th, is capitalizing on the success of its weekend breakfast sandwiches by offering morning meal items seven days a week. Fruit parfaits featuring seasonal organic produce and Noosa yogurt will be among the regular offerings in addition to drip Boxcar coffee and infusions from Tea Pigs Tea. Breakfast sandwiches will also include vegetarian and gluten-free selections. A typical full bore breakfast sandwich may include such ingredients as egg, fontina cheese, roasted tomato spread and prosciutto or spinach on an English muffin.

Venerable Boulder beer purveyor, Twisted Pine Brewing, 3201 Walnut St. Suite A, recently announced a significant shift in its distribution strategy that a renewed focus on their Boulder venue. The new approach involves the cessation of distributing bottled beers, such as the popular Hop Zealot and Billy's Chilies brews, and paring down keg distribution to select Colorado customers. This shift will allow Twisted Pine to focus on its ale house business, which includes a tasting room and restaurant as well as live music and even a board game night.

The Boulder alt-country band gives its EPs names such as Death and Resurrection, and its songs bear the mark of hard truths and sin. But the punk energy behind the playing, and the sense that it's all in good fun, make it OK to dance to a song like "Death." Full Story